New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-27
CHIPS ON THE CURRENT.

BITS OF THE CHAT AND GOSSIP OF TIE DAY.
One of the earliest horseback riders in the days 10
Central Park is the young Baron de Lorme OF France
whose stout figure is somewhat in contrast with his
good horsemanshp, for he rides like a cavalier. His
favorte hoar for exercise Is o'clock and t rarely
happens that the stormy weather prevents him from
taking his enjoyment. He will be missed from the
bride path shortly he will sail for France this week.
The Baron is some what OF mystery TO New-YOr<
capitalists. Upon his first appearance here he at
tempted the promotion OF an American company to
build railroads in China. The scheme had Indifferent
success al irst but il is understood he worked it 10
successful conclusion. ut least put his project In the
way OF successful completion BY organizing 1t sue
ce-sful. tie is one OF the allies OF the company Of
Count de Lesseps Ia the Panama Canal scheme, and
makes the New-York office OF that company bis head.
quarters while in New-York. IL has been whispered
around that he is OF the agents sent over here by
the French Government to make Investigations ~ to
arms and ammunition which could be purchased IA
this country in the event OF war between Germany and
France II that Is his mi scion II has been secretly ans
automatically conducted.
The studio of an artist who has wealth with which
TO CRAFTY his tastes and wms generally curiosity
shop strewn with all aorts OF knck-kDacks. Such
place the studio OF C. f. Proctor In Twenty
st. Mr.. Proctor is q slender young man with pale
white face, dark black HAIR and eyebrows. He Is
grandson Of the man who Was associated WIN ongef
IN the early days OF the Singer sewing machine and
his father il president OF the Singer Company AZ
the present time Among tie odd things In his rooms
is % uiano which 10 said TO have been tae hrst iDsfu'
nent of it's kind to he taken eastward across the
Alleghaues IL bou yht by his brother ct an aic-
sale in Pittsbug and must be at least 100 years
yeneeriBg. The makers names are Breitkopf et
Haertel Leipzig" In spite OF its age and lack Of
tnefuness the old piano still makes eonsideraoie
show rs q musical instrument. the chords when struck
emitting, how ever, metallic sound.
Ex-Governor C. c. Van Zandt of Rhode Island, who
dav fron vii
where be has been spending the winter with uriah
WEIGH brought with him reports Of toe blooming
dion of the South that contras. strongly with the
cold weather and high March winds here. Peaches,
pears, Jasmine and roses in fui bloom there with
perfect summer weather. The Thermometer has re 1s-
tered as high as SO, but rms ordinarily about So
The Governor says that there not - many people
at the hotels FlOria his last year, aud
tor IL by the low Rates TO California taking
pleasure seekers that direction. found thomas
vile much delightful said he, "tnan any place
have spent the winter in in Florida. The climate is
ab olutely perfect DIR. Godthwaite, DIR. Metest and
Salem II. Wales, of New-fork. are there. As TO thu
New South il is at all what 10 IL cracked M TO b
in tho papers met Mr. Grady down there and found
HIM bright young man, but many OF the people thert
the most forlorn that ever saw"
A story of Southern politics was picked hf a
Thomasyille by Mr.. Van Zandt. politician who waa
running tor office desired to the negro oe and
had bought up colored preacher who agreed tor xlJ
to make addresses to his congregation IN favor OF the
candidate. The politician sand 10 the clergyman:
think the best way TOR you TO influence your people ~
to let them understand that am neither DE nocraS
Republican. but old line Wing. IL Is best To
break up tho feeling that exists between Democrats
and Republicans and start out On the new lne and
this is just as good time as any to DO It.. when the
his he followed tue advice OF the politician in
this Ny dear br dren, you are not to pro-
nounce upon Massa Blank tor de sins OF omission or
commission bv eJer de Democratic or Republican
party. Massa Blank am neder Democrat or Republ-
lean. He is simply lyin Old Whig.' When the poll
tician heard OF it he tore his hair.
1 heard yesterday bright reply by young wife to
an old husband. lie is N"w-York professional man
of high reputation Some time after his marriage he
was foolish enough to think that his wife, who is
most beautiful woman net sufficiently educated
ana laid out q course OF reading for her. A month
abe had not opened a book lie Sc. up his eyebrows
after the Of old husbands when Their young
wives have displeased them Whereupon with be-
wtching smile she said to him: y was made TO be
loved not to be learned" She won the day.
When Mr.. Blaine was in Pennsylvania last year La
went down to his old home in Washington County
AID thence down to West Virginia the line Of
railroad in hch he is interested with other promi-
nent public lie declared afterward that he found
this egion scenery unsurpassed by anything that ho
had ever this country Ii is only recently that
people have been going into West Virginia IN summer
time Tor but the reports that come from
many to go that way III coming summers New
YORK artist Wac invaded tho West virginia forests
last year %asr the q MI a a%d Mrs uSa 81
she has produced show the rich coioIng OF the
West Virginia forests to be all that Mr.. Blame
Jared them to be- Her sketches were made along
tho Backwater River and her experiences there were
novel A guide and woodsman accompanied her ON
her trina and down the bushes and trees so THAI
sbe might get access the river, along which sha
climbed tor nany miles to reach the tails, OF which
tn. re- are six eight. The trout fishing ID the poob
there Is excellent
There were numbers OF old Confederate soldiers al
the Southern Society banquet vino, like all old
soldiers were full OF stories and "reminiscences.
iss sippi veteran, Shiloh related that az
irlnI began the break OF day, huge raoOit
llmped from the underbrush his re- iment and
rushed away to the rear, displaying amplitude OF
white fur that might have served tor nag OF truce
the animal had gone into tho Union hnes by tns
story tellers aide another Mississippi man. wbos
a. he saw the RABBIT scamperiDg away shouteu ous
" Go it, Molly Cotton Tail. Ii 1t wasn't Tor my char'
a cter I'D be with YOU
Tennessee troops were tn butt OF much joking
among Union soldiers during the war on the sround
that they never shat and had Ieet that wouid
sstori.h . Chicago girl Tho neglect to shut
doors VIVA explained by Tennesseans On the ground
rher climate so sauOrious tnat tnry had no
need of doors except as luxuries. But thcy never
On. over the story Yankee prisoner told at Belle
2i ,hont their big feet. II was at Petersburg waS
,S nrisoner's story that brigade met Tennes.
ses regiment and poured hot shot Into them for an
hour We knew We were Going terrible execution, be-
eanse We could their guns dropping Out OF Their
hands But somehow none OF them dropped overs
Presently We charged and when We came up to their
ine 40 found that hat rc.nained OF n were oes@
OF our muskets, because their big feet ~oudh' 100
than fall down"